Whirlwind Weekend...

...but it was so much fun---and we certainly crammed a lot in to it! The purpose of this trip was a family reunion/party to celebrate Steph and Nicky's marriage. Just about the whole family was there.

Butch and I came in late on Thursday---drove straight through with no stops---5 1/2 hours. We ordered toasted ravioli and Italian salads from Imo's and had it delivered to our hotel room

This photograph is courtesy of Mindy. She took it on their way in on Friday. Not bad for a moving car, leaning over Jordan and taking it through the window.

First thing Friday morning, Butch and I shopped for the food and beverages for Saturday's picnic party. We went to Jeanne's to drop of the groceries and for me to meet up with my sisters. Butch went on to meet up with Sandy and family for an afternoon at the zoo.

All four of my sisters and our sister-in-law---who after this long is definitely a sister---went down to the Delmar Loop for lunch and a movie. 

We first encountered this. I have never seen parking meters in a parking garage. Given today's technology, they are really old-fashioned. Jeanne ended up having to come back and feed the meter after lunch.

We ate at Blueberry Hill---known for their burgers. It was delicious. We were surrounded by classic memorabilia from the 1950's and 1960's. There was so much to see and reminded us of the toys we had as kids.

Fitz's root beer is also located in the loop. My lunch wouldn't have been complete without one.

Jeanne and Joyce stand in front of one of the 250 birthday cakes that are scattered all around St. Louis to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of St. Louis. 

A block down, Jennifer and Janice pose in front of another. If I still lived there, I would have to hunt for them all. That would be so much fun.

The Tivoli theater is really old. I love that it is still in business. Even when I grew up in St. Louis, I don't think I was ever at this theater. 

This documentary is the reason we came. We grew up in Spanish Lake (North St. Louis). Today, it's a very dangerous part of town. This documentary was created to explain what happened there that caused the decline. We all really enjoyed it, but if you didn't grow up there, you probably wouldn't. We knew everything they talked about, houses, schools, church---very nostalgic for us. It's just a shame that it's such a high crime area now. Our house still stands, but it doesn't look very good.

 I love the elaborate decor of these old theaters.

A little too dark to get a good picture of the decorative ceiling and alcoves.

Once the movie was over, we all went back to Jeanne's to just hang out together. Butch and Sandy came late afternoon. Of course we ordered pizza for dinner. There are just enough of us that live out-of-town now that we have to have it when we're home. 

The rest of the Lapps family decided to go to a Cardinals baseball game. They had nosebleed seats...

...but did not mind due to this view. They were right behind home plate. They had a really good time even though it was a 1-0 game. There wasn't a lot of action, but at least the Cardinals won! Go CARDS!

Sandy, Butch and I went back to the hotel around 10---exactly at the same time Steph, Nicky, Mindy and Jordan arrived. Perfect timing. The girls HAD to have Imo's pizza delivered. We went to bed!

The party was on Saturday. Once my phone became the means for music via Pandora, I never even gave it a thought to take pictures. I'm at the mercy of the family to send me some. We have a very large family and not everyone could make it. Still we had about 50 there.

Mindy sent me this one. She cannot resist sidewalk chalk!

We had a washers tournament. Joyce and Greg G. (nephew-in-law) were the big winners of $64.00. We had hamburgers and hotdogs, assorted salads, Laffy Taffy and cotton candy. I had arranged for an ice cream truck to come---that was a big hit. I even let the kids have two! And by kids, I mean the adults that are still kids along with the kids that are still kids!

We went back to Jeanne's when another large family asked us if they could have the picnic shelter and bbq. Technically, we had it until dark, but it was 5 p.m. and we'd been there since 9-ish. We were happy to pack up and let that family have it.

We always seem to end up at Jeanne's because she has a big house and it is more centrally located to everybody. We had so much fun just sitting around laughing and telling stories.

This little guy decided to join the party.

When we got back to the hotel, there had to be another order of St. Louis pizza. This time it was Stefaninas. We got a large and an extra large. This is the size of the extra large. HUGE! Surprisingly, it was all eaten. There's nothing like St. Louis pizza---really thin crust and provel cheese (St. Louis Italians invented it---you can't get it anywhere else---instead of mozzarella. It's much creamier and oh, so, good!)! As Mindy posted on Facebook---in St. Louis for 36 hours and managed to have pizza 3 times!

We got back to Nashville by 1 p.m. on Sunday. I took a little tour of my gardens. I'll share those later.
Back to reality after such a fun weekend. I love my family! All of them! We are a huge bunch.